10 Tips for Writing a Guest Post

This post was originally published on July 26th, 2015. It was updated on February 26th, 2018.

There’s no denying it. Writing a guest post on a reputable site is a great way to get noticed online.

Well, when you do it right!

When your content is featured on another site, you are essentially introduced to an entirely new audience. This can help you find new readers for your blog and possibly secure clients and customers.

It’s the perfect way to gain some exposure for your brand. You just need to know the ins and outs of writing a guest post that’s successful. And that’s why we’re here today!

10 Tips for Writing a Guest Post

If you’re looking to add guest posting to your strategy, you might be wondering where to begin. After all, a failed guest post isn’t going to do much for you in the end. You want to make sure you’re targeting the right readers and producing amazing content. Here are some tips to help you out:

1. Have a Goal in Mind

The first tip I want to share with you is to have a goal in mind when writing a guest post. If you’re going to take the time to write a piece of content, it should serve a purpose. Otherwise, what’s the point?!

For example, you could step up your guest posting strategy around the time of a launch. Before your new product goes live, make it your mission to build your email list and generate brand awareness. You can guest post in relevant sites, provide an opt-in freebie, and watch your email list grow.

It’s simple, but effective. Because the odds are, many of these people will just be learning about you. So, they won’t be primed to buy just yet. You can build a relationship with them through your email list instead.

2. Target the Right Audience

Instead of writing for just any website that’s looking for guest posters, carefully consider who you should be writing for. To get the best results from your post, write for a site whose audience would be interested in what you have to say. Their audience should be the type of people who would also want to read your site and buy your offerings.

You can submit articles to sites of all different sizes because:

Sites that are smaller than yours might be more inclined to say yes to your proposal. And although you might think it won’t be worthwhile, think of it this way… That site could very well be the next big thing. And when they blow up, you’ll be glad you had a piece published there!

Any websites that have the same size audience as you are great opportunities as well. There’s a good chance you’ll get a yes from them and they’ll still see the collaboration as mutually beneficial.

When writing a guest post, don’t be afraid to pitch larger sites either. You never know what they might say! Plus, it’ll obviously be incredible exposure for your brand.

3. Write Valuable Content (Obviously!)

Of course, the key to writing a guest post that gets traffic and engagement all goes back to quality. If your content is crap, people aren’t going to be impressed. They won’t bother to check out your site. And it’s safe to say, you won’t be asked to guest post for that site again!

Make sure you’re providing tremendous value to these new readers. Give them something they’ll fall in love with, so they can’t help but visit your site afterwards. Another great tip is to provide them with an exclusive opt-in freebie to grow your list and further build your relationship.

4. Follow the Site’s Guidelines

Another important factor to keep in mind is that you need to follow the guidelines of the website you’re writing for. If the site is experienced with taking on guest posters, they probably already have set guidelines in place to ensure quality.

Make sure you follow those guidelines exactly to avoid having your post sent back for endless amounts of edits. And to avoid having your piece rejected!

5. Format Your Post

This tip goes along with following the website’s guidelines, but let’s say they don’t mention anything about formatting. You can easily determine what kind of posts perform the best on their site by reviewing their published content.

Do they like posts with multiple visuals? Does their audience love a good list post? Do they make use of bulleted and numbered lists? Pay attention to these things so you can incorporate these formatting techniques into your piece!

6. Don’t Stress Over Revisions

If the site you’re writing a guest post for sends your piece back for revisions, don’t panic. And don’t take it personally. They just want to make sure the blog post is as good as it can possibly be. It’s not some personal attack against you or anything like that. This can also be a good learning experience, as it may provide you with tips to better your future writing.

7. Include a Brief Bio

The new audience you’re about to be presented to is going to want to know a little about you. Instead of making the other site write up a bio, take the time to write one yourself. You can easily reuse it for any other guest posting opportunities in the future.

Your bio should tell readers who you are, what you do, and where they can find your online. Don’t forget to include a picture of your bright, smiling face!

8. Promote, Promote, Promote

Once your guest post is live, make sure you promote it like crazy to your audience. It’s the best way to ensure it’s successful by sending a bunch of traffic to the other site. And if that site owner sees the benefits of working with you, you just might be invited back in the future!

You can easily spread the word on social media and share it with your email list for maximum results. Don’t be shy about telling everyone why they should check out your post.

9. Respond to Comments

Don’t forget to check back on your post afterwards to read any comments you’ve received. Be sure to respond to them as well because this is going to help you build a relationship with all these new people. They’ll be appreciative you took the time to respond and so will the site owner!

10. Thank the Host for Having You

And finally, thank the site owner for allowing you the opportunity to write for their site. It’s such a simple act, but it’s that little bit of extra kindness that could lead to more guest posts in the future.

Want more help creating amazing online content? I designed my Captivating Content Kit for Bloggers especially for this reason!

It’s your go-to guide for coming up with irresistible blog post topics, how to write content readers will actually enjoy, and so much more.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

I'm Rachel. After blogging for nearly 10 years, I've learned what it takes to create a successful online presence. Now, I help creatives like you build blogs and businesses they love so they can do work that's fulfilling. Read More

Your fulfilling business is within reach.

This website uses cookies 🍪 to improve your experience. We'll assume you're cool with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT

Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.